Hindutva group distributes swords, raises anti-Muslim slogans during rally in UP’s Ghaziabad
Lucknow: A rally organized by the Hindutva group Hindu Raksha Dal in the Shalimar Garden area of Ghaziabad in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh state has sparked alarm and escalated communal tensions. During the event, members of the group were seen distributing swords and raising anti-Muslim slogans.
According to Kashmir Media Service, videos of the incident, which have gone viral on social media, show members of the group displaying and handing out swords in provocative manner.
In one of the videos, Bhupendra Chaudhary, also known as Pinki, the national president of the Hindu Raksha Dal, is heard invoking recent political developments in Bangladesh and urging Hindus to arm themselves.
“… Hindus should keep swords to defend themselves,” Chaudhary is heard saying in the video. “We have distributed about 250 swords, and we will continue to distribute. We have distributed these locally,” he said. He also added that the Hindu Raksha Dal would “respond to every single jihadist” in his own language.”
The provocative actions have raised concerns about escalating communal tensions in the region following which police registered a first information report (FIR) against 16 identified persons and 25- 30 unidentified individuals in connection with the incident.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shalimar Garden, Atul Kumar Singh said they have made several arrests in connection with the rally. Chaudhary has been named in the FIR but remains absconding, Singh said.
